Weft control means in a gripper loom



April 16, 1968 A. MOESSINGER 3,378,040

WEFT CONTROL MEANS IN A GRIPPER LOOM Filed oct. 22, 1965 4 sheets-sheet '1 -titl lO INVENTOR A/ber Moess/'nger ATTORNEYS7 April 16, 196s A. MOESSINGER WEFT CONTROL MEANS IN A GRIPPER LOOM Filed Oct. 22, 1965 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR A/ber Maess/hger BY M *WW ATTORNEYS April 16, 1968 A. MOESSINGER WEFT CONTROL MEANS IN A GRIPPER LOOM 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed 001,. 22, 1965 INVENTOR ALBERT MESS/NGER Q/Wvqf ATTO v BY

United States Patent O 3,378,040 WEFI' CONTRL MEANS IN A GRIPPER LOM Albert Moessinger, 1056 Epalinges, Switzerland Filed Get. 22, 1965, Ser. No. 501,652 Claims priority, application Switzerland, Dee. 22, 1964, 16,518/64 6 Claims. (Cl. 139-122) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE This invention relates to a novel method and means for weaving. The invention is more specifically related to a weaving machine and method wherein a shuttle carrying a weft thread moves in a continuous circuit without slowing down. The method comprises the steps of gripping a weft thread in a shuttle, moving the thread through warp threads, releasing the thread after passage through the warp threads, gripping the released threading by a seizing means, and withdrawing the thread to the initial point while maintaining the therad under proper tension. The apparatus comprises generally, means for supplying thread, shuttle elements for grouping the threading, means for causing the shuttle to move through warp threads, means for releasing the thread from the shuttle after its passage through the warp threads, means for seizing the released weft thread, and means for slideably withdrawing the weft thread from the exit side of the warp threads to the inlet side of the warp threads while maintaining the weft thread under proper tension.

The present invention relates to a method and a means for placing the weft thread in its correct location and at its proper tension.

Among the objects of the invention are to tension yarn or thread in a gripper shuttle loom in order to give the desired quality or characteristic to the finished cloth, to accomplish the tensioning reliability at relatively high speed and in coordination with the operations performed by other parts of the loom mechanism, to present tensioned yarn for the beat-up operation, and to control weft-tension and draw o yarn from the bobbin simultaneously. In carrying out the method, a certain length of the weft thread is pulled hack at the inlet side of the shed. Through the withdrawal of the weft thread the desired thread tension can be obtained. The method may be carried out by means of a pull-back device arranged at the inlet side of the shed, this device being controlled by the loom drive in such a way that weft thread material is not only drawn back om the shed.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of weaving wherein the weft thread is drawn from a bobbin outside of the inlet side of a shed and is carried through the weaving shed by a gripper shuttle and passes beyond the discharge side of the shed, where in means are provided including a mechanism beyond the discharge of the shed for holding the weft thread while permitting it to be pulled backwardly through the shed by a force acting on the weft thread through the shed.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a weaving apparatus wherein a gripper shuttle is circulated in a continuous manner and in a continuous closed path of travel and through a shed, wherein means are provided adjacent the discharge side of the shed to engage the weft thread before it is released from the gripper shuttle.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method and means for withdrawing or pulling back a predetermined length of weft thread through the shed which length is shorter than the length of thread passed 3,378,d4 Patented Apr. 16, 1968 through or beyond the discharge side of the shed, after which the thread is pressed into the woven `fabric and thereafter the thread between the shed and the mechanism on the discharge side of the shed is cut.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a weaving apparatus comprising a shed with an inlet and discharge side and a gripper shuttle for passing a weft thread through the shed. The apparatus further provides gripper means on the discharge side of the shed disposed to grip the weft thread past beyond the discharge side of the shed and an inlet side gripper means disposed on the inlet side of the shed with a supply bobbin, with the inlet gripper means being disposed between the bobbin and the inlet side of the shed and operatively connected to the thread to pull it back through the shed a predetermined length.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a weaving apparatus with a gripper means on the discharge side thereof which consists of a housing with an inlet opening therein and a suction passage for creating a suiiicient suction or vacuum to hold the weft thread against the discharge gripper means, and with the gripper means located at a position on the weaving machine which permits it t0 engage or hold the weft thread after it has been passed through the shed, and before it is released from the gripper shuttle.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a vacuum or suction means on the discharge side of the shed having an elongated slot or slit that is aligned on an axis on the discharge side of the shed and is longer than the length of the shuttle, in order to engage the weft thread before it is completely released from the gripper shuttle.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a weaving apparatus or machine including means for withdrawing a portion of weft thread from a shed after it has been passed therethrough comprising a pivoted lever means and complimentary adjacent spring means adapted to engage or grip a weft thread passed therebetween. The apparatus further provides another lever means and a complementary and adjacently disposed spring adapted to engage or grip a weft thread passed therebetween. The apparatus also includes a cam means for moving the second mentioned lever means away from its corresponding spring and a biasing spring means normally urging the rst mentioned pivoted lever means toward its corresponding spring, and a lever bar device disposed to move the first mentioned pivoted lever means away from its corresponding spring to permit part of the weft thread to be pulled back through the shed after it has irst been passed through the shed of the weaving machine.

In the present invention the weft thread is drawn from a bobbin situated or positioned outside of the shed and on the inlet side of the shed. The weft thread is carried into and through the shed by a gripping shuttle. The weft thread, after passing beyond the outlet side of the discharge side of the shed, a predetermined length, is taken by a mechanism or device situated on the outlet side of the shed which permits the thread to slide under the influence of a force exerted upon the thread through the shed, but which at the same time engages the end or adjacent portion of the thread so that it is properly tensioned when it is being withdrawn or pulled in a reverse direction through the shed.

In the present invention this method and apparatus adapts itself especially to weaving machines utilizing a gripping shuttle that is moved continuously in -a closed continuous path of travel or circuit, part of the circuit of which includes the shed of the weaving machine. After the weft thread is passed 'beyond the outlet side of the shed it is released from the gripper shuttle by any well known means, but not before it has been engaged by a holding mechanism disposed on the outlet or discharge side of the shed. This mechanism generally consists of vacuum or suction means that hold the ends of the weft thread while permitting it to be pulled back through the shed, thus avoiding any sudden return of the thread in the shed, and maintaining a proper tension on the weft thread at all times.

The present invention further provides means for taking the weft thread that is connected to the supply bobbin and connecting it to la gripper shuttle and providing a marginal grip situated near the top of the shed so that it can be properly passed through the shed and brought in by the movement of the slay, with this grip being closed during the pressing of the weft thread in the fabric after which shears or cutters cut the thread between the fabric and the marginal grip. The portion of the thread passing from the marginal grip to the bobbin passes through a guide means that is disposed on the opposite side of the shuttle. In the case of machines that Work several weft threads from ditferent bobbins, each of the threads is held by a marginal grip and passes through a separate and independent guide, with each of these grips and guides being employed for a single thread, and being xed upon a similar lever and moving independently of the others in a plane lthat cuts the direction of the thread, so that one of them presents itself to the passage of the gripper shuttle. To bring this thread to its marginal grip after its insertion in the shed, a guide in the form of a V shape is disposed between the marginal grip and the guide of the thread and moves with the slay, guiding the weft thread between and up to the middle of the jaws of the gripper shuttle. In order to compensate for the increase in the length of the thread between its guide and the entrance to the shed, a part of the withdrawn thread will be free. The withdrawal or pullback mechanism withdrawing the thread from the shed or reversing the movement of the thread through the shed is provided by lever means preventing movement of the thread between the lever means and the bobbin during a part of its cycle or course and drawing back another portion or side of the thread situated in the shed when the lever means continues its cycle or course by increasing the length of the thread disposed between two fixed guide means.

Various other objec-ts and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof and in which FIG. 1 illustrates the weaving machine embodying the present invention with the shuttle disposed on the inlet side of the shed and with the shuttle jaws in an open position.

FIG. 2 is a view similar to the view shown in FIG. 1 but shows the gripper shuttle jaws closed and engaging the thread for moving it through the shed.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 but illustrating the weft thread pulled through the shed beyond its outlet side and with the weft -thread being held by the vacuum means embodied in the present invention and with the shuttle jaws open and the shuttle ready to follow its usual well known cycle of travel.

FIG. 4 is a view of the embodiment of the present invention illustrating the pullback means withdrawing or returning a portion of the weft thread from the shed.

FIG. 5 is a view of the present invention illustrating the slay disposed in an extreme position or in its lowest position.

FIG. 6 illustrates in detail the braking system embodied in the present invention by which the thread is withdrawn or pulled back through the shed.

In FIGURES 7 and 8, the closed continuous path of travel is represented by 5 and the portion of the circuit which includes the shed is represented by 14. The shuttles 30 are moved in this closed circuit. In this example, the

4 shuttles 30 are driven in the circuit 5 by the wheels 77 and 79.

The shuttle 14 is formed by the warp threads 11 and 13 brought together with the fell of the cloth 15 by the reed 17. The warp threads are driven in the usual manner by frames 19 actuated by cams 21 xed to the shaft 89, the elbowed levers 23, the rods 25, and the springs 101. The shaft 89 is connected to the main shaft 67 through gears not shown. The warp threads 11 and 13 are drawn from a warping beam 27 by passing over a roller 29 and by crossing rods 31, which separatethe threads in the usual manner. The manufactured cloth 15 passes on driving roller 33 to be wound on a cloth beam 35.

The reed 18 is actuated according to the usual method by the levers 37 surrounding the pins 39 by the motion of a double lever 41 mounted at each side of the loom and working on a double cam 43 connected to the slay 12 on which the reed is fixed. The cam 43 is alixed to the shaft 67 of the weaving machine. This shaft 67 is driven as usual by a pulley, which pulley is driven by an electrical motor, not shown.

The shears located on each side of the shed are formed in one part by a knife fixed on a fixed axis 47 and a pin 49 and another part by a movable knife 51 pivoting around the axis 47. When the thread is tightened into the cloth, the leg of the reed 17 or the slay on which it is fixed, presses the -boss 53 of the movable knife 51, closes the shears and cuts the thread coming out of the shed. When the reed returns, the shears are again opened by the spring 55 which leans on a fixed part 57. On the exit side of the shed a suction slot 50 is provided together with the end 52 of the tube 48 which is connected to a vacuum cleaner.

Referring to the drawings the reference numeral 10 generally designates a weaving machine or apparatus provided with a slay 12 of well known construction and the reference number 14 designates the shed. The fabric is generally designated as 16 and the slay is provided with the usual comb 18. The pirn or bobbin 20 is disposed a substantial distance outwardly of or ahead of the inlet side of the shed. The weft thread 22 is unwound from the bobbin and passes through a brake device 24 and thereafter through a grip device 26, both of which are well known devices in the art. Thereafter the weft thread passes through a pullback or withdrawal mechanism or device generally designated 28. Between the device 28 and the shuttle 3i) is a well known guide member 32. Cutter members 36 and 34 are disposed adjacent the inlet and the outlet sides of the shed respectively. A grip device or marginal grip 38 is positioned adjacent the cutter member or shear 34 and on the side of the shuttle 30 opposite the side on which the guide member 32 is disposed. Another guide member 40 is disposed on the slay adjacent the inlet side 42 of the shed.

Disposed on the outlet side 44 of the shed is a vacuum or suction holding device 46 which is provided with a conduit or tube 48 in communication with a source of vacuum not shown, and which device has an elongated slot, slit or opening 50 therein. It will be noted that the end 52 of the conduit 48 adjacent the elongated slot 50 is substantially wider in cross section than the cross section of the tube 4S. The machine is also provided with a friction brake 54 disposed adjacent a complimentary member 56 adjacent the end of the slot 50 that is nearest to the outlet side 44 of the shed. The brake 54 may Ibe utilized in addition to the holding device 45. The brake 54 is provided with any well known means so that it moves adjacent the member 56 in order to hold the weft thread therebetween when desired.

Referring to FIG. 1 it will be seen that the weft thread is threaded between the shuttle jaws 5S of a rounded guide 64B on which the weft thread slides until it is in the position shown in FIG. 2 at which time the shuttle jaws 58 are closed and stay until the shuttle passes through the shed.

A suitable shuttle is shown in FIGURES 18 through 20 of the U. S. Patent 2,738,810 to Varkonzi. Any conventional means to open and close the shuttle gripper may tbe used.

Referring to FIG. 3 it will be noted that the shuttle 30 is shown after it has been passed through the shed and is on the other side or the outlet side of the shed and in a position wherein the weft thread 22 is held by the holding device 46 by applying a vacuum or a suction through the tube 4S so that the portion of the weft thread adjacent the slot 50 is held by the suction force thereagainst. Thereafter the gripping jaws 58 of the shuttle are open so as to release the thread which slides over the guide 60 while the shuttle follows its normal path of travel.

1f desired, at this time the gripping member 54 may be actuated by any well known means so that it too will engage the weft thread 22 between the grip 54 and its complimentary member 56.

Referring to FIG, 4, there is illustrated therein the method of withdrawal or the pullback of a portion of the thread from the shed after it has passed therethrough. At this time the grip device 26 has lheen closed and the pullback device 28 has moved from the fixed guides 62 and 64 and in this way drawing the weft thread back through the shed.

Referring to FIG. 5, the extreme position of movement of the slay is shown therein. It will be noted that the length 66 of the weft thread between the guide 32 and the guide 40 has increased to its longest length, which is compensated for by the pullback device 28 so that the thread will not he unreasonably stretched in the shed. When the weft is pressed into the fabric the two shears or cutting members 34 and 36 will cut the thread coming out of the fabric. The free end of the weft thread will be held by the device 46 at this time while the other end of the thread connected to the supply bobbin will be held in the marginal grip 38. Thereafter the slay will turn to its starting position at which time the cycle will be repeated.

Referring to FIG. 6 there is shown therein a holding and positioning device which serves to withdraw or pull back a portion of the weft thread after it has passed through the shed. This device generally designated 28 is provided with spaced walls 68 and 70 with an inlet 72 and an outlet 74 for the weft thread with the inlet 72 permitting the thread to enter from the bobbin while the outlet 74 is disposed adjacent the inlet side of the shed to permit the weft thread to be fed or supplied to the shed. A lever 76 is disposed within the structure and is pivoted about a pivot pin 78. The lever 76 has an arcuate portion 8G adjacent the pin 78 which terminates in a substantially straight flat portion S2. The lever 76 is disposed so that the weft thread 22 entering the inlet 72 can be engaged by the arcuate portion 80 of the lever. The structure is also provided with a complimentary steel band or resilient spring member 84 consisting of a straight portion 86, a loop 88 disposed around a pin 90 and an arcuate portion 92 that is disposed opposite the arcuate portion 80 of the lever 76. The inner end of the arcuate portion 92 terminates in a straight lift 94 that is adapted to engage a member 96. The resiliency of the steel band or spring member 84 is controlled by an adjustment control screw 98. The part 96 together with the part 100 provides an opening 102 therebetween for passing the weft thread 22. A biasing spring 164 is mounted on a fixed support 106 adjacent one end and on a collar 108 on the straight portion 82 of the lever 76 so as to normally urge or bias the straight end 82 of the lever 76 away from the fixed support 106 so that the arcuate portion 80 will grip or engage the weft thread 22 between the arcuate section 80 and the complimentary arcuate section 92 of the resilient spring member 84 This presents the weft thread 22 from being unwound from the bobbin.

Disposed adjacent the wall 70 of the structure is a lever 119 consisting of an arcuate portion 112 and a straight portion 114 and pivoted about a pivot pin 113. The arcuate portion 112 is adapted to be pressed toward a complimentary arcuate section 116 of a steel band or resilient spring member 118. The member 118 is provided with a. loop 120 disposed on a pin 122 and has a straight section 124 similar to the spring member 84. The resilient member 118 is provided with a threaded control screw 126 similar to the control screw 98. The inner portion of the arcuate section 116 is provided with a straight lip 128 adapted to bear against a member 130. The member 130 is disposed in spaced relationship with the member 132 so that an opening 134 is provided between the two members for passing the weft thread therethrough. The opening 134 is disposed in alignment with the opening 102 and with the opening 74 through which the weft thread passes on its way to the shed.

When the weft thread is passed through the shed, the lever bar 136 which is disposed in alignment with the collar 103 and the straight portion 82 of the lever 76, is in its upper position as shown in FIG. 6, and raises the lever 76 so that the weft thread can pass readily between the lever 76 and the part 92. During this time the straight portion 114 of the lever 110 is actuated by a cam not shown acting upon the straight portion 114. At this initial movement of the weft thread, the arcuate portion 112 and the arcuate portion 116 are pressed together slightly to insure the tension of the weft thread necessary for its anchorage in the shuttle. Thereafter the device is loosened so as to reduce the tension on the thread to `a minimum tension. When the shuttle has passed through the shed and the weft thread has been disengaged therefrom, the lever 136 descends or moves downwardly so as to cause the biasing spring 104 to press against the arcuate portion 92 so as to grip the weft thread between the lever 76 and the part 92. Thereafter the lever bar 136 pulls the weft thread between the fixed guide members, 96 and 130 so that the portion of the weft thread coming from the shed is then pulled back er withdrawn from the shed while moving between the arcuate portions 112 and 116. The particular amount of tension desired in the weft thread at this time can be properly regulated by the cam acting on the lever and by the proper adjustment of the adjustable control screw 126 acting upon the spring member 11S.

inasmuch as there are various changes that can be made in the form, location and relative arrangement of the several parts and the method of carrying out the invention without departing from the essential characteristics of the invention, it is to be understood that this invention is not to be limited except by the scope of the appended claims:

It is claimed:

1. A weaving machine including means for withdrawing a portion of weft thread from a shed after it has been passed therethrough comprising a pivoted lever and adjacent spring means adapted to grip a weft thread passed therebetween, and another lever and adjacent spring adapted to grip a weft thread therebetween, a cam means for moving said another lever away from its corresponding spring, and a biasing spring normally urging said first pivoted lever toward its corresponding spring, and a lever bar disposed to move said first pivoted lever away from its corresponding spring to permit part of the weft thread to be pulled back through said shed after it has first been passed through said shed.

2. A weaving machine in accordance with claim 1 characterized by the fact that a portion of the withdrawn thread after the insertion is freed to compensate at least in part for the increase of the length of the thread due to the movement of the slay.

3. A weaving machine comprising a gripper shuttle which moves continuously in a closed continuous path of travel, a part of which path of travel includes an entry into, a passage through, and a discharge from a shed and wherein a weft thread is caught and released by said shuttle during its travel and means located outside said shed to hold the thread after its passage through the shed and a means to withdraw the thread from the shed in such a manner that the thread slides back through the shed and the holding means, said withdrawing means comprising a pivoted lever and adjacent spring means adapted to grip the weft thread passed there between and another lever and adjacent spring adapted to grip a weft thread therebetween, a cam means for moving said another lever away from its corresponding spring, and a biasing spring normally urging said first pivoted lever toward its corresponding spring, and a lever bar disposed to move said iirst pivoted lever away from its corresponding spring to permit part of the weft thread to be pulled back through said shed after it has been passed through said shed.

4. A Weaving machine comprising a thread package located outside a shed, a gripper shuttle which moves continuously in a closed continuous path of travel a part of which path of travel includes an entry into, a passage through and a discharge from said shed and another part of which path of travel includes a gripping of said thread prior to its entry into the shed and a releasing of said thread after its discharge from the shed, a holding means for holding the weft thread after the thread has been released and while the thread slides in the shuttle, a withdrawing means located at the inlet of the shed for pulling 2 the weft thread through the shed and through the holding means and for giving it the required tension while in the shed and for bringing closer the extremity of a thread from the shed, said withdrawing means comprising a pivoted lever and adjacent spring means adapted to grip a weft thread passed therebetween and another lever and adjacent spring adapted to grip a weft thread therebetween, a cam means for moving said another lever away from its corresponding spring and a biasing spring to normally urge said first pivoted lever toward its corresponding spring and a lever bar disposed to move said iirst pivoted lever away from its corresponding spring to permit part of the weft thread to be pulled back through said shed after it has been passed through said shed.

5. The weaving machine of claim 3 wherein the holding means consist of a housing with an inlet opening therein and a suction passage for creating a suction to hold the weft thread against said holding means, said holding means being located adjacent the shed.

6. The weaving machine of claim 5 wherein said holding means forms an elongated opening slit which is aligned on an axis on the discharge side of said shed.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,948,051 2/1934 Rossmann 139-126 2,990,854 7/1961 Pfarrwaller 139-123 2,738,810 3/1956 Varkonyi et al. 139-18 3,269,426 8/1966 Llado 139-122 3,299,909 1/ 1967 Golobart 139-122 FOREIGN PATENTS 683,616 -4/1964 Canada.

489,213 7/1938 Great Britain.

527,200 5/ 1955 Italy.

HENRY S. JAUDON, Primary Examiner. MERVIN STEIN, Examiner. 

